North Kitsap's volleyball dynasty based on constant competition ... and steak

Tim French has helped build the North Kitsap volleyball team into the dominant program in the Olympic League. The Vikings have won nine of the past 10 league titles.(Photo: Meegan M. Reid / Kitsap Sun)Buy Photo

POULSBO -- Tim French became the North Kitsap volleyball coach in 2004, but it took some time to build the program into what he wanted it to become.

He even thought about stepping down by his third year in charge.

But district tournament runs in 2007 and 2008, when North Kitsap was still a Class 4A school, helped open his players' minds to what could be possible if they bought in. Since then, North Kitsap has been on a run of success that's unparalleled in Kitsap volleyball history.

“I'm glad I hung in there,” French said. “Once the leaders buy into that, it becomes a lot easier because it builds upon itself.”

The Vikings have won nine of the past 10 2A Olympic League titles and collected two district titles, including this year. They've made six trips to the state tournament since 2010 and won three trophies, finishing second in 2014. That was also the first time a volleyball team from Kitsap had made it to a state championship game.

North Kitsap opens play in this year's state tournament on Friday. The Vikings (16-1) face Lynden (13-5) at 9 a.m. at St. Martin's University in Olympia.

French has been winning in volleyball since his first coaching job, as an assistant at what was then Lind High in eastern Washington in 1984. (Lind has since consolidated with Ritzville High.) That team won the B state title. French became the head coach the next season and guided his team back to the championship game.

“I was like 'oh, this is fun!'” French said.

While French understands that you need talented players to do well, he also knows that for them play at the best of their ability, they have to know that they have to compete at a high level at every moment.

That's why he's instilled the same mentality that Pete Carroll has with the Seattle Seahawks: compete on every ball, no matter whether it's practice or a game.

“We treat every practice like it's the Super Bowl,” French said. “They compete very hard in practice. Some of our best play is in practice.”

Players also point to the tight bond they share together. French said they've worked hard to instill a family atmosphere with no divisions. The seniors know they have to serve others and not just be in it for themselves.

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North Kitsap volleyball players Autumn Carver, center, and Taylor Clodfelder team up for a block during a recent practice. The NK coaches emphasize constant competition in practice.(Photo: Larry Steagall / Kitsap Sun)

“It's the unselfishness and the caring for each other,” French said. “Do everything you can for your sister, because she would do it for you. We have an acronym of “Don't Let Your Teammates Down” that we put on our t-shirts.”

Junior middle blocker Julianna Benson and senior setter Rae Rosenquist repeatedly referred to the team as a second family.

“I've never felt this kind of a connection to a team before,” Benson said.

Rosenquist said not having a superstar player to dominate over the others has helped as well.

“No one feels they're better than one another,” she said. “I can give the ball to anyone in a set and they'll take care of what they need to take care of.”

But for all their success the team has had, they've never had a weekend like they did last weekend, when they didn't drop a set en route to their district title win at Franklin Pierce High School.

“It's probably the best experience I've ever had in high school by far,” Benson said.

The two also credit how supportive the coaching staff is. They said not only French but assistants Kaelea Makaiwi and Jim Vargas are there for them – no matter what is going on in their lives and treat them as equals.

“Mr. French is very caring,” Benson said. “If we need to make up a test he'll say 'Yeah, go get that grade up.' He's just there for us. And so is Miss Mak (Makaiwi). If we need to talk to her about anything, she's always there for us. All of our coaches are awesome and they're really good role models for us.”

There's another motivating factor that French uses: food. Players can get fried rice from Makaiwi (like they did after the league tournament) that Benson raves about.

They can also earn cookies for serving well and even ice cream cake for hitting certain team scoring milestones. Rosenquist said she's only got that once.

They all believe getting a steak dinner at French's house -- a reward for making the state tournament -- was a big motivating factor for a few players to play their hardest.

“There was a point during a game where coach looked at our teammate Erin (Pearson) and he's like 'Erin, what do you smell?' and she's like 'steak!' And we just went crazy!” Benson said.

Rosenquist said it became a rallying cry for them all weekend.

“After we won the first game, we were like 'Do you smell that? It's steak! We're going to have steak! We're state bound!' We always make sure we get our reward for working hard.”

“You want most of it (motivation) to be intrinsic, but sometimes you have to dangle the carrot in front of them – or the steak,” French said.

Benson and Rosenquist know the team is coming into state on a roll of confidence and they know they're ready to give it their all and feel successful no matter what happens. And they also feel that what they've done this season will carry on to those who follow in their footsteps.

“As a varsity player, French makes it obvious that whatever you do, the younger players will follow in your footsteps,” Rosenquist said. “You show hard work and compassion towards the sport, then they will too.”

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North Kitsap volleyball coach Tim French, center, and the team get ready for the start of practice after each player stated their goals for the session.(Photo: Larry Steagall / Kitsap Sun)